The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

30.7 Beth NC's task: Fire Elementals
Choose 2 of the following options and read one book from each. REQUIRED: Please indicate which options you chose.
1. Fire element's nature is to change the structure of whatever it touches into new state of being. Read a Paranormal /Urban Fantasy book where someone is transformed into a “new structure” ie vampire/angel/shapeshifter. REQUIRED – indicate in your post the character who is transformed, what s/he transformed from and what s/he transformed into.

2. Fire is at the very heart of transformation, clearing the old and making something new Read a book where the main character cleanses something from his/her life and begins a new stage in their life ie. divorce, move, job change, letting go of anger/sorrow. REQUIRED – explain what was cleansed/let go of.

3. “Lighting a Fire under someone” means to motivate or push them. Read a book that motivates you to do something you have been putting off. (This can be a fiction or nonfiction book) REQUIRED – State what you were motivated to do

4. Some of the emotions associated with fire are: passion, sexual energy, love and lust. Read a romance book – one with “romance” listed as a genre on the book’s main page.

5. Animals associated with the element of fire are - lion, snake, dragon, eagle, horse, phoenix Read a book which features one of these animals in the story or has one on the cover. REQUIRED - post a link to the cover or state the animal featured.

6. In Chinese astrology anyone who was born in a year ending in 6 is born under Yang Fire and anyone who was born in a year ending in a 7 was born under Yin Fire. Read a book where the number of pages ends in a 6 or a 7. REQUIRED: State the number of pages in the book you read. If the edition you read does not have the pages listed on Goodreads, please link to an outside source for the page numbers.

Works -

Option 5 -

Reserved

for option 2 - would getting out of jail and starting over work?

Dee wrote: "for option 2 - would getting out of jail and starting over work?"

Absolutely, just be sure to explain that when you post.

thanks ;)

For the animal option does it have to be a real animal? I was specifically thinking of Lion in the Valley which has a stone lion on the cover.

Thanks

Will this work for a dragon on the cover?



There is a dragon in the book and that is his shadow.

Bluemoon wrote: "For the animal option does it have to be a real animal? I was specifically thinking of Lion in the Valley which has a stone lion on the cover.

Thanks"

I will accept it

Cindy AL wrote: "Will this work for a dragon on the cover?



There is a dragon in the book and that is his shadow."

It works

Would Jephte's Daughter work for #2?

And, for #5, would The Story Teller work? The horses are drawn on paper.

Bea wrote: "Would Jephte's Daughter work for #2?

And, for #5, would The Story Teller work? The horses are drawn on paper."

The Story Teller works.....

For Jephte's Daughter, I am not sure what she is cleansing from her life. The idea for the task is more cleansing something from your life to start a fresh new better life. The description of the book sounds like she did the opposite,went from good to worse. If I am missing something please let me know.

For 5, how much of the animal does it need to show? I'd like to read , and there's a dragon in the eye of a super-close-up of the head of another dragon.

Beth NC wrote: "Bea wrote: "Would Jephte's Daughter work for #2?"

For Jephte's Da..."

Beth NC, I just looked at the description for the book I linked to and see why you responded as you did. Here is the link to the book I own, and its description is fuller.

Jephte's Daughter

I was wondering if Change of Heart would work for #2? It sounds like the mother has to let go of her hate, and the man is looking for redemption. I was particularly looking at this part from the description - "Would you give up your vengeance against someone you hate if it meant saving someone you love? Would you want your dreams to come true if it meant granting your enemy's dying wish?"

Beth, will Magic Bites work for option 1? The description talks about a paramilitary clan of shape shifters which are involved in the story...

Will The Country Girls work for Option 2? From the description, it sounds like the girls are starting a new life away from their roots in the country...

Would this be a "shapeshifter" for Option 1?

Bear Daughter

Ms Anderson wrote: "For 5, how much of the animal does it need to show? I'd like to read , and there's a dragon in the eye of a super-close-up of the head of another dragon."

I will allow it because from the description it sounds as if dragons play a large part in the book also.

Bea wrote: "Beth NC wrote: "Bea wrote: "Would Jephte's Daughter work for #2?"

For Jephte's Da..."

Beth NC, I just looked at the description for the book I linked to and see why you responded as..."

A much clearer description and I will allow it, just make sure in your post you link to this description.

Randi wrote: "I was wondering if Change of Heart would work for #2? It sounds like the mother has to let go of her hate, and the man is looking for redemption. I was particularly looking at this p..."

Definitely

Lavinia wrote: "Beth, will Magic Bites work for option 1? The description talks about a paramilitary clan of shape shifters which are involved in the story..."

Yes, this will work since the shape shifters "transform" from human into something else

mstan wrote: "Will The Country Girls work for Option 2? From the description, it sounds like the girls are starting a new life away from their roots in the country..."

I am looking more for someone who cleanses old and starts new, but since I did specifically mention a move, I will allow this.

Kathy G. wrote: "Would this be a "shapeshifter" for Option 1?

Bear Daughter"

absolutely

Beth NC wrote: "Randi wrote: "I was wondering if Change of Heart would work for #2? It sounds like the mother has to let go of her hate, and the man is looking for redemption. I was particularly loo..."

Thanks! :)

Beth NC wrote: A much clearer description and I will allow it..."

Thanks, Beth NC

For option 2, can I read Unorthodox? ? It is about a woman who leaves her lifelong religious sect (Satmar) to live in the "outside" world.

Cindie wrote: "For option 2, can I read Unorthodox?? It is about a woman who leaves her lifelong religious sect (Satmar) to live in th..."

Yes that works

Beth NC wrote: "Cindie wrote: "For option 2, can I read Unorthodox?? It is about a woman who leaves her lifelong religious sect (Satmar..."

great! Thanks!

For option 1- can I read Beastly: Lindy's Diary? It features the Beast from Beauty and the Beast.

Jayme VA wrote: "For option 1- can I read Beastly: Lindy's Diary? It features the Beast from Beauty and the Beast."

If he transforms back into a human somewhere in the book (end maybe?), then yes. Be sure to explain the change when you post

Thanks Beth. I guess I'll have to read to find out =)

Jayme VA wrote: "Thanks Beth. I guess I'll have to read to find out =)"

If by chance you can't use it for Option 1, it fits Option 4 as a romance.....

Thanks Beth!

Would you allow Birds of Prey for option 5? It doesn't have a bird on cover, but an eagle is a bird of prey, so would that work? The book is an adventure set on seas and Africa.

Luckngrace wrote: "Would you allow Birds of Prey for option 5? It doesn't have a bird on cover, but an eagle is a bird of prey, so would that work? The book is an adventure set on seas and Africa."

Sorry, it needs to either have an eagle on the cover or have an eagle as an important part of the story; In this case the Birds of Prey seem to be pirates, not actual birds.

I have 3 slave narratives on my to read list. Would any of them work for option #2? Each story describes their lives in slavery while they are now (at time of writing the book) free.

For option #3 - this particular challenge I've been trying to read more classics, I have a few on my to read list (i.e. The Great Gatsby and A Tale of Two Cities). It's a bit of a stretch, but can I use a classic as my motivation to read more classics? Thought I'd ask just in case :-)

Would The Académie work for #2 since the main character moves to France and starts boarding school?

Carla wrote: "I have 3 slave narratives on my to read list. Would any of them work for option #2? Each story describes their lives in slavery while they are now (at time of writing the book) free.

They will work if the slaves did somthing to free themselves, not if they were freed because the civil war freed them. There has to be come active concious effort to make the change, to cleanse one thing to start another.

For option #3 - this particular challenge I've been trying to read more classics, I have a few on my to read list (i.e. The Great Gatsby and A Tale of Two Cities). It's a bit of a stretch, but can I use a classic as my motivation to read more classics?

Sorry but something in the book has to motivate you,not the genre of the book.

Angie wrote: "Would The Académie work for #2 since the main character moves to France and starts boarding school?"

I don't see the letting go of something to start something new and better.....

For number 3 - I have this Map of Middle Earth cross stitch that I am suppose to be stitching for my sister. Can I read one of the books in the Lord of the Rings series to motivate me to work on it?

Kathryn CA wrote: "For number 3 - I have this Map of Middle Earth cross stitch that I am suppose to be stitching for my sister. Can I read one of the books in the Lord of the Rings series to motivate me to work on it?"

absolutely

Beth NC wrote: "Carla wrote: "I have 3 slave narratives on my to read list. Would any of them work for option #2? Each story describes their lives in slavery while they are now (at time of writing the book) free.
..."

thanks! Thought I would just ask for option 3. I've already found something else for that. For option 2, each of these particular slave narratives are about escaped slaves. So, I guess that would work.

Carla wrote: "For option 2, each of these particular slave narratives are about escaped slaves. So, I guess that would work
.
..."

Yes, that would work great.....

I am going to read The Philosopher's Apprentice which is about the cloning of a dead daughter and then filling the "new" daughter's blank slate mind with philosophy, art, etc.

Will this work for option 1 of this task?

Almeta wrote: "I am going to read The Philosopher's Apprentice which is about the cloning of a dead daughter and then filling the "new" daughter's blank slate mind with philosophy, art, etc.

Wil..."

It is not exactly what I had in mind, but I will allow it

Hi Beth,

Can we count a unicorn as a horse? or

Hi, Beth - fun task!

Will this cover work for a horse? . I ask because one can't see his face.

Beth NC wrote: "Almeta wrote: "I am going to read The Philosopher's Apprentice which is about the cloning of a dead daughter and then filling the "new" daughter's blank slate mind with philosophy, a..."

Yeah, I'll find a different spot. Thanks for the approval, but I think I'll look again for something more in line with the task intent.

Jayme VA wrote: "Hi Beth,

Can we count a unicorn as a horse? or "

No, a unicorn is not a horse